Independent Review Organization: AllMed's Skip Friedman Explains Why IROs Are Necessary

AllMed Healthcares Dr. Skip Freedman authors article published in the most recent issue of The Self-Insurer Magazine.

(PRWEB) March 16, 2005 -- AllMed Healthcares Dr. Skip Freedman has authored an article that has been published in the most recent issue of The Self-Insurer Magazine, entitled How IROs Keep Healthcare Costs Down-and Patients Get the Right Care." In the article, Dr. Freedman defines the role of Independent Review Organizations" (IRO) and offers a detailed analysis on the many benefits that IROs provide to their clients. The following excerpts are from Dr. Friedmans article:

What is an Independent Review Organization?

An Independent Review Organization (IRO) is an intermediary that provides a ready source of timely, expert medical opinion that can be used to weigh both the medical and insurance sides of healthcare claims decisions. To deliver this, an IRO provides access to a breadth of specialist physicians who provide unbiased expertise that is otherwise unavailable to large self-insured companies handling their own claims management or associations and small to mid-sized companies using third-party administrators (TPA's)."

When should companies use Independent Review Organizations?

Companies... using third-party administrators can turn to IROs whenever they need to tap into deeper medical expertise for an objective approval or denial of a claim based on medical fact, not anecdotal evidence."

How can an Independent Review Organization reduce healthcare costs?

As treatment costs, complexity and medical specialization increase, these factors may force claims managers to err on the side of paying unnecessary or questionable claims because they lack access to right medical expertise for making informed decisions within an acceptable timeframe. In such cases, outsourcing medical decision to an IRO can eliminate unnecessary treatments and have a dramatic impact on lowering healthcare claims costs"

To read the entire article, please click on the following link: http://www.allmedmd.com/independentrevieworganizationarticle.pdf

About AllMed Healthcare Management:

Founded in 1995, AllMed is a URAC-accredited Independent Review Organization (IRO) serving insurance payers, providers, TPAs and claims managers nationwide. Reviews are conducted by board-certified physicians in active practice. AllMed's growing customer base includes premier organizations, such as Educator's Mutual Life, IMS Managed Care, Tenet Healthcare Corporation, HealthGuard, several Blue Cross Blue Shield organizations, TriWest Healthcare Alliance, Allianz and many other leading healthcare payers.

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